The Best Meals

It's my contention that the best tasting meals are often the unplanned ones - those made up from scratch at the last minute, like tonight's meal for example. I came home today and found no meat thawing in the fridge. But I did find a package of fully cooked chicken sausage and some shaved Asiago cheese. With the fresh vegetables such as green and red peppers, garlic, onions, and the like that we always have on hand, this was a snap to put together with our dry and canned goods cupboard. Use what peppers you have handy:

Ingredients

1 pkg rotini or bowtie pasta
4 links Italian style sausage, sliced thin
1 green pepper, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 yellow pepper, sliced
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup grated or shredded cheese, Parmesan, Asiago or other Italian style
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried basil
Dash red pepper flakes

Directions

In a large pot bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente, drain and set aside. Retain some of the pasta water in the pan to keep it from sticking together. While pasta is cooking heat oil in a large covered skillet and toss in all of the vegetable except the garlic. Saute until the onions are clear and add the garlic and the dried spices. Continue cooking for another minute and add the sausage, heating through. Finally pour in the tomatoes and the drained pasta, tossing the mixture to coat thoroughly. You may sprinkle on the cheeses here or wait until plating.

Cover the pan and heat until liquids have been absorbed. Plate and top with more cheese and serve with crusty white bread and a full-bodied red wine.